ATV sales are continuing at a decent pace and consumers are looking to invest in a good set of tires. With the plethora of choices, regarding the tire's size, fit and which one works best in certain terrain, retailers stand to make a pretty penny with the right selection of tires kept in stock. Enthusiasts, too, are always on the lookout for ways to improve the look of their vehicles. What follows are some of the industry's leading wheel company comments to find out their latest offerings in this month's Market Report.

Charles Tsai of Achieva tells us the company's latest ATV tire is the Flat Track Tire. He adds the tire is an excellent quality tire for flat track racing. Achieva's sales are up over the previous year, Tsai notes. Dealers should know Achieva offers a great quality tire for a great price, he says.

The Dunlop Quadmax line is the latest from Goodyear Dunlop North America, reports Phil Waters, national sales manager. The tires feature an aggressive tread pattern, which has been engineered to provide superior performance in harsh conditions, he explains. Other features reportedly include a flatter profile that provides a larger footprint for added traction, wrap-around shoulder elements for improved side traction and a tapered shoulder block design that delivers smooth and predictable side grip. Waters has noted a steady move toward radial construction and larger diameters. The company's ATV tire sales have gone up due to new product introductions and the growth in the side-by-side market, he said. Waters recommends dealers know the correct fitment, application and terrain the vehicle will most likely be associated with when selling their customers tires.

Interco Tire Corporation introduces the Swamplite ATV tire and Condor wheels. According to spokesperson Allison Leger LeBlanc, the tires are available in sizes ranging from 21x7-11 to 29.5x10.00-12 and are distinctly designed with all features contributing to excellent performance and lighter ground disturbance. The Condor wheels are constructed from machined aluminum and feature clear coat in a four spoke or seven spoke design, explains LeBlanc.

The all-new SS Alloy wheel line from ITP is designed with the perfect fusion of style and performance, states the company. They add, the line includes the 6 spoke SS106 and the 12 spoke SS112, each available in three different sizes, the 12x7, 14x6 front and 14x8 rear wheels. Both the SS106 and the SS112 reportedly use a bright, diamond-cut machined finish with black accents and a tough clear-coat finish, while the SS112 also comes in a chrome finish. “The ITP SS Alloy wheels are ideal for most late-model 4x4 sport/utility ATVs as well as side-by-side UTV applications such as the Yamaha Rhino,” states ITP.

Kenda USA offers the Bounty Hunter SBS Heavy Duty K537 tires, reports North American Sales Manager John Leale. The tires are designed to meet the demand of the popular side-by-side vehicles, he explains. Leale adds, “The new radial heavy duty 6 ply rated casing offers 225 percent higher load carrying capacity than any other tire in this category.” The K537 also reportedly features a tread designed for smooth rolling on various terrains, a bead rim saver and the ply radial offering extra weight carrying capacity. Leale said he has noticed more consumers becoming more aware of specific tires based on riding styles and which terrains they perform best on. Kenda's tire sales are up this year and they expect them to continue to rise throughout the 2007 year as they introduce more tires to the ATV market, he states. Leale recommends dealers know the correct tire sizes for their customer's ATVs as well as which terrain they will be riding, in order to sell them the proper tire.

ATV Product Manager Chris Harris tells us the Sand Dozer from Kings Tire is the newest model of tire at Western Power Sports. “This tire offers an 8 paddle design, along with a double paddle tread pattern,” explains Harris. He has noticed a trend where consumers seem to be looking for a more modern look to customize their ATV or UTV. Sales are up for both tires and wheels and with manufacturers able to keep up with the market demand, WPS has been able to supply their dealers with the newest tires and wheels, divulges Harris. Understanding tires and wheels is difficult, but knowing bolt patterns and offset specs as well as general knowledge of tires and wheels is helpful in selling them, he explains.

MotoSport Alloys offers two new wheels, the Sportlite S2 wheel for sport ATV models and the Tork Wheel for utility ATV models, states General Manager Brandon Halcomb. The Sportlite S2 features a machined black finish and is available in 10x5 +5mm and 10x8 -35mm sizes, reports Halcomb. He adds the Tork wheel is available in 12x7 +10mm, 12x7 -47mm, 14x7 +10mm and 15x7 -47mm sizes in either chrome or machined black finish. Halcomb has noticed a trend towards lighter materials, larger diameter wheels and more aggressive treads on utility tires. Sales are up for MotoSport Alloys, he says, and dealers should remember not to settle for the same old styles, rather there are plenty of options to choose from to give your customers some diversity.

“Our newest product is our Billet Center wheel available in 12 inch diameter only. This wheel is marketed towards all utility quads and especially the Rhino and UTV market,” states a spokesperson from OMF Performance Products. They add the wheels feature the company's scalloped beadlock inner reinforcing ring and billet center. “A polished stainless steel beauty plate is provided to cover up unsightly hubs and brake components,” says OMF. They add, the rise of the side-by-side market has contributed to the rise in OMF's sales over the past year. The company advises dealers to spend more time training their sales staff on what products are out there as well as the pros and cons of each product.

Spokesperson Ascanio Fassati tells us the Race Rail XC has been added to Pirelli's high-performance line of ATV tires. The front tread design provides precise cornering and unmatched braking power, explains Fassati. The tires also reportedly include a 6-ply-rated carcass for extreme puncture resistance and the rear tread is said to be shaped for aggressive straight-line traction. “[The tires are] tested and approved in the United States by top GNCC professionals,” states Fassati.

Skat-Trak's Larry Kilday announces the addition of the company's latest paddle designs, the Extreme and the Exciter. “The Extreme is for the new higher horsepower quads and the Exciter is for the smaller children's quads,” explained Kilday. All Skat-Trak paddle tires are custom made so each customer can choose the specific size and the number of paddles they want, he added. Tire sales are about the same as last year, he tells us, however, it is still pretty early in the season. Kilday reiterates that all of Skat-Trak's tires are custom made and take about two weeks to process.

The newest offerings from Tucker Rocky are the 26 inch Ducks Unlimited Wetlands tire mounted on an ITP Delta wheel, reports Glen Urquhart, ATV segment director. They feature radial construction and 3/4 inch lugs, he adds. Urquhart has noticed a trend where bigger is better, with tires now measuring 30 inches tall and aluminum wheels that feature a much racier look. Tucker Rocky's tire, wheel and mounted kit sales are up substantially this year, divulges Urquhart. Dealers should remember that having the popular tread patterns and sizes in stock is key to selling tires and wheels, he explains. Urquhart continues by saying the addition of a wheel kit to the sale of a new unit can drive up the per-unit profit by at least 50 percent.

Vision Wheel now offers the 161 Brusier and the 159 Outback in a flat black powder coat finish with a flat clear coat on top to provide an extremely rugged finish, states spokesperson Terry Arnold. These wheels are available in 12 inch x 7 inch, 12 inch x 8 inch, 14 inch x 7 inch and 14 inch x 8 inch sizes, he explains. The company's sales are up due to the increased awareness of their wheels and an enlarged dealer network, reports Arnold. Retailers should keep in mind how much their bottom line can increase when their customers buy a set of aftermarket wheels and tires with their ATV, concludes Arnold.

Every consumer who rides an ATV will always need a good set of tires. Those looking to spruce up their vehicles can do so with a new set of wheels. Displaying the tires and wheels on the showroom floor can help your customers decide which is right for them. Staying informed on the differences of each tire and wheel, as well as keeping a good selection of each, is a good way to increase your bottom line. We hope this tire and wheel report was insightful and be sure to check out our look at ATV brakes elsewhere in this issue.

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